NHL Rumor Mill – September 3, 2020
We’ve been dealing with a publishing problem since September 2. We’re working on the issue and hope to have it resolved soon. Here’s a brief look at the latest notable NHL trade rumors.
MURRAY AND ANDERSEN: TSN’s Darren Dreger believes Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has had a lingering interest in Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray going back to their days with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds. Dreger believes Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has an offer on the table that he would consider for Murray, but he doesn’t believe it’s from the Leafs. They would have to find a landing spot for current starter Frederik Andersen.
The Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun cited sources saying the Leafs have had some inquiries about Andersen, who has a 10-team no-trade list. However, he thinks some teams could consider the free-agent market before going the trade route.
TAYLOR HALL: Dreger reports the Arizona Coyotes are expected to make another offer to pending UFA winger Taylor Hall. It sounds like there was good discussion between Coyotes brass and Hall’s agent but the lure of free agency is tempting. The Coyotes search for a new GM could complicate things.
PATRIK LAINE: The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports the Winnipeg Jets aren’t shopping Patrik Laine and he doesn’t think there’s a strong possibility the winger will be traded. Nevertheless, LeBrun suggested the Carolina Hurricanes as a possible trade partner because of their blueline depth. Just for fun, he proposed a package of Brett Pesce and Vincent Trocheck for Laine.
The Winnipeg Sun’s Scott Billeck is the latest Winnipeg pundit against the idea of the Jets trading Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers to address their blueline and second-line center needs.
ALEX PIETRANGELO: The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford reports the St. Louis Blues trading Jake Allen to Montreal yesterday could foreshadow the club’s effort to re-sign pending UFA Alex Pietrangelo. The Blues need to shed cap space to make it happen, but Rutherford cites league sources saying the two sides aren’t close to an extension and nothing is imminent.
BRUINS: ESPN.com’s Greg Wyshynski believes the Boston Bruins must decide if they’ll re-sign pending UFA defenseman Torey Krug. Both sides have said they’d like to work out an extension. Several of the Bruins’ stars are on cap-friendly deals, but Krug could get some big offers on the open market. He also feels the Bruins should take one last run at the Cup with their current core, but advocates more roster tinkering. They should also determine if goalie Tuukka Rask still intends to return for the final year of his contract.
NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty believes the Bruins could have a different look next season. He feels they must begin transitioning from their aging core toward a young one build around David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, and they must get bigger up front.
HENRIK LUNDQVIST: New York Post’s Larry Brooks reports Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has returned with his family to start the school year in New York. He has a year left on his contract. However, he faces an uncertain future with the Blueshirts as the club transitions toward young goalies Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev. It’s unknown if he might retire or seek to continue his career with another NHL team.
MAX DOMI: The Hockey News’ Matt Larkin suggested the Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks as possible destinations for Max Domi if the Montreal Canadiens decide to trade him. Those clubs all need depth at center.
BLUES TRADE ALLEN TO MONTREAL: The St. Louis Blues traded goaltender Jake Allen and a seventh-round pick in 2022 to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for two picks in the 2020 NHL Draft.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The picks are the Washington Capitals third-rounder and the Chicago Blackhawks seventh-rounder.
Moving Allen wasn’t a surprise. The Blues must free up salary-cap space if they hope to re-sign captain Alex Pietrangelo and fellow defenseman Vince Dunn.
This deal sheds Allen’s $4.35-million cap hit for next season, giving the Blues $75.1 million invested in 20 players for 2020-21. That won’t be enough to re-sign both blueliners, assuming that’s the intent of Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. More moves could be coming.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, land a reliable backup for starter Carey Price. Allen, 30, had his struggles as a full-time starter in St. Louis but put up solid numbers backing up Jordan Binnington this season.
Allen is an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2020-21, so it’ll be interesting to see how well he fits in with Price. In the meantime, his presence should buy promising Cayden Primeau some time to develop his game with their AHL affiliate in Laval.
Acquiring Allen leaves the Canadiens with $67.4 million invested in 17 players. Depending on how things shake out with restricted free agent Max DomI, there’s enough room to make another significant addition or two.
No worries, Lyle. It’s too bad, the content is A+ (dare I say, A++!), but the site layout, ads, and mobile unresponsiveness reek of geocities 1998 interwebs. 😉
If not for the ads, I’d have to make this a paysite, and I daresay it wouldn’t last long if I went that route.
Oh, no quarrel with running ads, man’s gotta pay the bills! Just that within this old framework, they are particularly intrusive. 😉
What, there’s adds ?
I come here for the content …
Really pleased with the timing/return for Jake Allen. With the other big name goalies available, it was important to act early!
Armstrong has said that Husso will be given shot as backup, but I think an inexpensive veteran goalie would be good insurance too (if $$’s allow)
Next==Pietrangelo $8.25 million for 6 years
Hi Iowa Prince
Offer Petro 8 years
5 @ $1M Sal; followed by 3 @ $800 K (meets max Sal differential of 20%) Sal; give him $46.6 M in SBs spread over ONLY first 5 years
Total contract is $54M… Cap hit $6.75 M
I’m sure he’d have accepted 6 @ $9 M … $54 M from Blues
After 5 years ; he drops from SB + Sal in year 5 of about $10M – $10.5 M to 800 K to start a year @35… great incentive to retire … and very very likely he would
Before he retires he’s collected $51.6 M of the $54 (all gross)… 96%; and is only walking away from at best $1.2 M take home; to play 3 more gruelling years… he retires IMHO
Net… Army gets very palatable $6.75 M cap for 5 years; Petro gets effectively a 5 @ $10.3M CASH contract; retires at 35; gone from Cap
Army shy of doing those SB’s? He’ll lose him then cuz Cash rich Leafs will have absolutely no issue whatsoever offering more in SB…. Leafs will give him the $54 M contract over 7… Cap $7.7 M; structured as above… Sal $1M yrs 1-5 followed by 2 @ $800K … $47.4 M in SBs over 1st 5 years… Petro retires at 35 having collected 52.6/54… 97.4 % of contract and walking away from less than 800 K take home to retire at 35
Iowa Prince , tell Army to sharpen his pencil
Domi to Vancouver to re-unite with Horvat would be a sweet thing
Pengy, going on the assumption everything you posted is doable. If so, I’m going to print it out and drop it in Armstrong’s mailbox tonight. I like the scenario.
Colorado is now sniffing on Matt Murray.. If we can get defenseman Nikita Zadorov for Matt Murray and Jared Mccann that would be awesome.
Pengy..I know you like Peterson but he is a third pairing defenseman.. PERIOD
Sharks, Senators Avalanche, Flames, Wild, Red Wings, Hurricanes, Oilers all need a number one goalie…Murray will land somewhere he is cheaper, younger than all the UFA goalie
looks like young Demko may push Markstrom right out of Vancouver…
Hi BnG
Any move Jimbo makes now is completely irrelevant until he moves JJ
As it stands right now from his moves (the 1 year early re-up with raise for Ruhweedel; and his public laugh able love-a-thon for JJ and blaming everybody else but JJ for failures) it appears that he wants the bottom pairing to be jersey #2 and jersey #3…. which basically guarantees no playoffs for Pens
Again; I’d keep MM; BO JJ; CR to WBS; sign Soucy
If they do that… basically guarantees playoffs; and excellent shot of first in Metro
I know you’d rather have Pettersson as bottom pairing but he is (and will continue) growing a great ying/yang relationship with Marino
Tanger/Dumo
Marino/Petterson
Soucy/Riikola
with Czuczman or PO-J as 7th
That D group gets you in the playoffs with fair shot at1st in Metro
Well. A third for Allen. I can’t help but hope/wonder about the return for Murray now. Might be strong. Relatively speaking.
Hello Chrisms, if Murray gets more than a second rounder it would be a win for Rutherford. Murray has under performed, not as bad as Allen, and with a plethora of free agent Gs out there, what GM in this salary cap framework (Murray has arbitration rights this year I believe), would risk it on a rebound from Murray.
the return for goalies has never been a mystery. It is pretty low. Remember when Ottawa moved both Lehner and Bishop. The market wasn’t even as flooded. Goalies do not return substantial packages. Murray isn’t likely to get much especially when teams know the Pens wish to move a goalie for the own salary reason’s and the abundance of other tenders available for nothin but dollars.
Right on Jeff.
Yeah, i don’t see a bidding war for Murray. I said before the Allen trade I think he’ll get a 3rd possibly a 2nd.
No way in hell do I see a 1st or two 2nds.
If Pittsburgh gets offered a 2nd they need to run away with it.
Ida said take a third and say thanks before this Allen deal. Now…. I’d expect more.
Hi Chrisms
I advocate again for keeping Murray… little benefit in moving him (return… low 2nd rounder, tough to see a first…. and those assets don’t play [if at all] at best for 3 years); and risk with Larmi as back up if TJ gets injured. I think you mentioned that GMJR stated he would bring in a cheap UFA back up… that’s an unknown and a risk ; just to benefit a likely 2nd rounder who “could” play in the NHL when Pens are past their cup window.
Keep MM; with option if he falters below new contract value of (A) moving him at TDL; or (B) moving him before expansion draft; or (C) exposing him to Kraken…. all 3 options he’s off the books in 21/22; and if he shines in 20/21 … great return as his re-up contract is lower now (note thanks to 1. GMJR/Sully not sitting JJ in playins [again Note… MM 970 in play-ins when JJ was on the bench] ; and 2. Sully throwing MM under the bus with announcing goalie flip 24 hours after Sully said he wouldn’t tell press about any roster changes AND 3. Jimbo throwing MM under the bus in post play-in interview )
Had Sully sat JJ… Pens beat Habs; MM @970… and who knows how far they would have gone in playoffs. Bruins v Pens would have been a great series
Regardless… because of Sully/Jimbo antics… MM’s value down and his next AAV likely at least $1.5 M less than he could have rec’d
If they just had sat JJ and even if they had lost a squeaker series to Bruins… if they still were moving MM then… guaranteed at that point (970 v Habs and losing a tough series to a Bruins team that was SCF last year) a first in trade
Had they beaten Bruins… First plus
Keep MM
If they move him; only true value is if JJ is included in the deal
I know your position pengy and I respect it. But I don’t agree. I want dollars spent on d and f. Jarry will look at murray money. Desmith is a good back up. Spending 8-10 minutes n goaltending is not a good strategy for the pens.
IMHO Arz can circle back 20times to Halls’s camp but he’s not re-upping there
I think Liane stays… only logic to move him is with getting two roster players (including a top 4 DMan) and a first or second coming back…. and that limits trade partners to maybe a couple
Re Brooks and HL retiring… that to me is highly doubtful…. why walk away from $1M in SB and $4.5 M in Sal. This is all in Hanks control…. this could force Rangers to buy him out ; OR somehow trade him to a team of his choice
MM on Leafs? Long shot IMHO as they also them must move Freddy AND will end up with higher cap for MM… space they ain’t got to flitter with; and still need to boost the rear end
Still think Army gets it done with Petro…move or BO Steen
Re Habs and Allen… as I posted yesterday… not challenging the amount given up in trade or the notion of getting a back up to lighten Price’s load; and I know they have the space. It’s the $15 M on goalies!!! GMMB could have waited for the glutted UFA goalie market and got a back up (to lighten the load) at a much cheaper Cap. Yes, if they are out of it at TDL, they can move him; but $15 M in two goalies????
Then only rationale that makes sense for me is that MTL was not confident that one of the desirable UFA goalies available would want to sign with them for one reason or another.
The other consideration is that many of the decent UFA goalies may seek multi-year contracts while MTL only wanted a 1 year backup with hopes that Primeau will be ready to back up Price the following year.
I can’t think of any other reason for them to give up draft picks and extra salary/cap space for Allen.
Even though they have the cap space to spare, with the flat cap and many teams needing to reduce salary, that extra space could be used to leverage some talent and/or futures from other clubs.
Definite overpayment by Bergy – a 3rd rounder for the honor of helping the Blues out with their cap crunch ? I can’t imagine what he was thinking – or if he was thinking.
DoubleMinor, exactly. Wait to see how the UFA market shakes out, MB may not have gotten what he felt was a good fit for the team & only for one season.
FYI, as you watch the NHL evolve, even before Covid, the league was moving towards a true two goalie system & how important having a 1A & a 1B is as opposed to a 1 & 2 can be. I suspect this is a trend that will continue throughout the league.
As for the Habs having $15 mill plus per wrapped up in goaltending for atleast one season, they have the cap space, go for.
It’s funny how folks complain about how Bergevin doesn’t spend to the cap, but it looks like his team is in far better shape cap wise than many others in this league.
(transparency = I am a montrealer and habs fan)..Bergy has no choice as no UFAs will come to Montreal because of language, schools, politics , (too bad),, everything but hockey…. Bergy did very well with this trade
Exactly JoeL. All that seems to get clouded over in the rush to criticize Bergevin. But it’s all true. Winnipeg has the same sort of UFA roadblocks – albeit for widely different reasons.
The only kicker this time around is that there are so damned many UFAs with so few spots available – and in most cases not anywhere near the kind of money they may be expecting (toss in a few RFAs as well whose teams may just walk away from) – most, if they want to continue playing, may not get to be so choosy.
Fully agree DM
“ MTL was not confident that one of the desirable UFA goalies available would want to sign with them for one reason or another.“
…. hard to think that no desirable UFA goalie would want to sign there
“UFA goalies may seek multi-year contracts while MTL only wanted a 1 year backup with hopes that Primeau will be ready to back up Price the following year.” …
….Yep … but ALL seeking multi-year? There may have been more than one who wanted 2 years but at a total Cap less than Allen for 1 year (say 2 @ $2M)… Howard; Anderson; Smith; Elliott; Miller; Dell; Domingue; Broissot ; Hutch (although if he continues like last two games 😁😁) perhaps??
Well Met DM , Also I believe it was Washington’s 3rd pick , So Basically we traded Kovalchuk for Allen (Makes me sleep better at night :p )
“…. hard to think that no desirable UFA goalie would want to sign there”
Why would a desirable UFA goalie sign in Montreal to be the backup to a $10.5M goalie who has six years left on his deal?
I agree with you Pengy. The Habs certainly needed a solid, veteran backup goalie. Allen fits the bill and they gave up very little for him. My only objection would be the cap hit – about $2m. more than what I’d have liked. I believe that Bergevin’s thinking is that Primeau should be ready to back up price after one more season in the minors. Allen has only one more year left on his contract while the available UFA/RFA goalies would either prefer to go somewhere they could start, would want a multi-year deal or would be at risk of repeating the Keith Kincaid disaster.
I don’t have the love for Laine everyone else seems to have. I would trade him in a heartbeat to shore up the D or even better the 2nd line centre spot. You can have great players on your team but if the composition of the roster is wrong it doesn’t matter if you have a guy named McJesus or not. Laine is far from that level. If everyone loves Laine so much I imagine the return along with a 2nd line centre may be quite nice.
Hi Jeff
I posted before the suggestion of Montour; Reinhardt; 2nd for PL
It’s only for 1 year Pengy. We’ve seen what a refreshed Price brought in these playoffs. Gives Primeau a full season in Laval with zero pressure (ish) LOL!
Yesterday, during the exchange on the desired size of goalies, Fergy22 came in late with this bit of goalie trivia which I thought I’d repeat here because it is a graphic reflection of how much the game has repeatedly changed – in ALL aspects – over the decades
Fergy22 on September 2, 2020 at 6:27 pm
George , here is a goalie stat for you that I stumbled on to today.
Glenn Hall ranks 28th all time consecutive games played in the NHL , 503 straight games from 1955-1962. I would bet that that will never be eclipsed.
That’s all time for all players of every position. I seriously doubt we’ll ever see a goalie come even remotely close to that again. Holy crap!
And by the way, Hall was a relative shorty at 5′ 11″ 🙂
I don’t think that anybody should debate the logic of a bigger goalie being preferred but the idea that smaller goalies should be completely dismissed is flawed in my opinion. It is the same group-think mentality that kept small forwards and defensemen out of the league for years. Yes, the game changes and allows for different skills to become valuable like speed and vision.
I just find it unlikely that that there are not smaller goalies out there that have the athleticism to make up for and even outweigh the lack of extreme height.
The big goalies in the league are all athletic and “quick” but they can’t be as quick as some of the smaller guys.
Again, I understand it why they get dismissed (scouting jobs are tenuous enough without recommending a 5’9″ goalie), but I’ve seen some incredible instinctive, quick, smart, active , positional goalies that make it onto teams where most others have been already dismissed due to size.
BTW George O. Vezina had to be pretty damn good to have the NHL’s best goalie trophy named after him. You can argue about different eras but players are judged within their era among their peers. Greatness is greatness and it’s timeless.
Let’s not forget that the bigger goalies also started wearing bigger equipment that league was forced to address. Scoring went down.
I never said “short” goalies should be completely dismissed Marko. What I’ve pointed out – from drafting records – is that none under 5′ 10″ have been drafted in quite a few years and that that was likely due to the fact that the teams in the various feeder leagues to the draft are focusing more on the tall goalies. Did you check out this article I linked yesterday?
https://gooddeedseats.com/all-starting-nhl-goalie-heights/
Facts are facts.
As for Vezina, having the goalie trophy named after someone from that era of 30 games per season is par for the course. Almost ALL the major awards are named after someone from the “old days.”
nice rebound George , thx
Also yesterday, someone made comment about “the Way Lundqvist is being treated by NYR”. And to reply to Pengy’s comment that he should force their hand. Brooks wrote that Hanks returning to NY probably means he’s not retiring. There were rumors that he’d stay in Sweden and play with his brother. There’s nothing nefarious going on between Hank and FO. Both sides know that Shesterkin is the #1 now. Carp wrote a few weeks back that there wasn’t much interest in Gorgiev. With goalie market flooded, he’s nothing special. GAA over 3.00 for his 3 seasons. His save % is nothing that jumps out. He’s a backup. Hank is not waiving his nmc to go back up somebody else. IMO, Rangers could still be shopping Gorgiev, in which case Hank will stay and back up Shesterkin. If not, my guess is team will speak to him about any team in league that has interest in signing him if Rangers decide to buy him out. This won’t be a situation where team is worried about getting an asset or saving a million by trading him.
Is it our of the realm of possibility that management keeps a player down in his contract year in order to keep the salary demand down ? Ala Domi
What did Allen actually cost besides the dollars ? Other teams picks and they have lots of them
I have met Glen Hall and have his autograph on a picture from the 50’s with the Blackhawks. No mask
SilverSeven, in reality, they basically traded Ilya Kovalchuk for Jake Allen, with the possibility of resigning Kovalchuk, albeit to a cap friendly contract if necessary in the fall.
It was a late 3rd rd pick & the Habs still have three 4th rders, their own, the Ducks & the Jets.
I doubt MB paying 3rd pick will have any effect on the goalie market, as it will be cap space & the teams preference per goalie that dictates what each individual receives.
FYI, Dubas will give Rutherford his 1st rd pick back for Murray, once he runs Freddie out of town.
I’m betting either Alberta team would prefer Freddie over Matt Murray. Nor will they have pay a premium to get him if Dubas is in a hurry to get the Murray deal done.
Agree Uwey, I prefer Freddie’s consistency and known salary. Murray could be a good move if he can be signed for a reasonable aav. He is younger but due to goaltender voodoo you can’t be sure he will bounce back.
“Is it our of the realm of possibility that management keeps a player down in his contract year in order to keep the salary demand down ? Ala Domi”
It’s an interesting thought, but I don’t see it happening in reality. The player’s would see it for what it is, the Player’s Association would go ballistic, and that franchise would be hard pressed to ever sign another free agent.
The players have to see the new reality through the same lenses as every one else. What will eventually sink in is that you can’t get blood from a stone if revenues are down all across the board. You think TV advertisers – Hell, even rink board advertisers – are going to be forking over the same millions if this drags on … and on?
Let the player’s association “go ballistic” – they’ll be right in tune with all unions who think this is all a massive conspiracy.
George Spot on. The days of 8 years 10 million dollars contracts are gone, for at least the next 3-5 years.
That is just reality.
Players who are RFA’s are going to have to wait for their big payday.
Agents are going to want short term deals for young stars. For example, Barzal is probably going to go for two years at 8 or 8.5 per year.
After 2 years he can cash in, when things improve.
Lundqvist is playing poker and he’s holding all the cards.
With no morning coffee news, i’ll leave this here;
Is Zach Bogosian this year Ron Hainsey
Buffalo has a lot of work to do. Only 4 forwards under contract for next season and one of them is Okposo. If they don’t think they can draft a player close to NHL ready with the 8th pick I wouldn’t be surprised to see the pick traded as part of deal for immediate help for Eichel.
WOW …Did they over pay Skinner or what?
Let Krug walk, don’t resign Chara bring in 2 of the following 3 Edmundson, Dillon and Borowiecki.
McAvoy, Carlo, Lauzon, Edmundson, Dillon/Borowiecki and Grizz the D got bigger and more physical
Trade Debrusk for Virtanen
Borowiecki will be re-signed in Ottawa
Chara is coming back if Boston wants him!!!
Charlie is being traded to the Peg for Patrick Laine not sure if I like it but may work for both teams. Chara will resign in Boston for one year and his final year.
Spending 15 million dollars on goaltending is almost as genius as dropping 40 million on 4 forwards.
Brilliance.
Allen’s hit is only for 1 year it seems and the team has the cap space to allow it. I don’t get this complaint.
Ron Jull only hates Canadiens, ignore his comment about them
Ron, to be fair there is a slight difference – Bergevin still has anywhere from $6 mil to $9 mil to flesh out elsewhere, and in Allen’s case it’s not a long-term question of surviving with $15 mil spent on 2 goalies since Allen is a UFA at the end of next season.
Lord knows I have no reason to feel empathy towards Montreal any more than I do towards Toronto – but just looking at the math and what he needs to flesh out a line-up next season – especially if he dumps Domi and lets a couple of other RFAs walk – Bergevin is hardly in the same cap hell as Dubas. Can’t look at it any other way, and if next season sees games played in a compressed schedule – bubble or not – going with two quality goalies can’t hurt.
Either way, it’s still $15M in goaltending on a team that finished 12th in the conference last season.
But Garth, perhaps that was because whoever backed Price when he couldn’t play was largely ineffective. As I keep trying to point out, Bergevin still has LOTS of cap space to sign/trade for shoring-up – especially if he deals Domi and walks away from 2 others RFAs. He is NOT in Dubas’ position. Not by a long shot.
And it’s only for one season. I gather you don’t like the Habs – neither do I particularly – but that’s no reason to put on blinders to the situation.
What was the Habs record in games that Price didn’t play?
Is that the reason?
Ron,
As others noted, Allen’s contract is only for next season and Mtl has oodles of cap space. Also, schedule is likely to be very compressed with lots of back to backs. Teams without a high quality backup could be in great danger of missing the playoffs – Leafs acquisition of Jack Campbell should pay high dividends.
If Toronto and Montreal go into next season – and it’s a compressed schedule – with the tandems of Andersen-Campbell (64 gp in total) and Price-Allen (294 gp in total AND a Stanley Cup) and something happens to both Andersen and Price, who do you think is better situated to face the situation?
George,
I’m not sure that Allen’s time on the bench during that cup run counts for much.
I hear what you’re saying, but I just can’t see why Montreal made this move. I don’t think Montreal is a contender. It just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to bring the n Allen.
Are they concerned with finishing slightly higher in the standing next year? Or are they delusional enough to think they were a backup away from being a contender?
It just seems that money could have been spent in a much better way than on Allen.
NYR, I believe it is due to the compressed schedule. Finish higher in standings, better playoff matchup, maybe win a round. Covid-19 over, fans back in stands, profits up due to playoff gates.
And some insurance in case Price has an injury. Plus, the cost was zero roster players.
Lyle,
FYI. The uncloseable popup video issue I mentioned seems to have been corrected.
Glad to hear it, Ron. Cheers!
I would change Pierre LeBrun’s proposed trade from Pesce to Hamilton.
I like yours better, GP, but still don’t like it. Laine’s too one-dimensional for my liking. I feel like he’s a bit of a right-handed Skinner, who Carolina was fortunate to unload (given his current price).
Also, it’s a massive overpay for 1 year of Laine. I couldn’t stomach giving away Trocheck and Hamilton for that.
I would consider Hamilton for Laine straight up. Both can be difference-makers and both have 1 year of contract left.
(LeBrun’s thought of giving away Pesce for 1-year of Laine is ridiculous)
Laine an RFA and Hamilton is a UFA not a chance, Winnipeg makes that deal.
I keep reading these Laine one dimensional, which only show me folks making the comments don’t know the player.
Doesn’t matter Winnipeg isn’t trading Laine, you don’t give that shot up. He doesn’t turn 23 until April and he scored 36, 44, 30 and 28 goals. He is also 6’5 and 206lbs and last season he started to use his size. If he continue to do so he’ll be a beast in Winnipeg for years to come.
Unfortunately for Dougie Hamilton who is 6’6″ and 229 lbs never did use that size in a physical way.
That’s a fair point, Caper, I don’t see much of Laine in the Southeast US. I get the Hurricane’s matchups with WPG. Since WPG is never on US national TV, I never see him otherwise.
So, I don’t have much of a sample size.
Your point about Hamilton’s size is correct – he doesn’t use it. But he’s still a difference maker.
Would I do my proposed Laine-Hamilton deal if I was WPG? Heck no. But there’s no way I’m doing LeBrun’s deal from the CAR side, either.
2020 playin /playoff wins:
Frederick Anderson -2
Micheal Hutchinson – 2
Fun fact.
Also a fun fact;
None of Tavarse, Mattews, Marner or Nylander can fill Nate’s skates, skill or leadership wise, but all are paid more!!!!
My God Uwey….no one can fill his skates….including McDavid….it has to do with when these various players signed their contracts….
Old Blue Dog, if McDavid is this generations Gretzky, than Nate is this generations Messier.
Leafs not losing because of the goalie. They did not lose to the Bruins last year because of the goalie either.
Not sure Murray is even a lateral move
Caper…interesting on using their size….I think too many of the “star” players won’t or don’t. Matthews won’t either and I think if you went through the league many don’t. I think they are protecting their long term income potential. Less and less of them ( possibly sensibly) are sacrificing their bodies for the team
Nowadays they seem less a team and more a group of subcontractors who get together to try to achieve a goal while not harming their individual subcontractor interest.
In that regard George, I think you are right Borecki ( spelling) will likely not leave Ottawa. He has built up a ” local brand”.
Old Blue Dog, i believe some of that but for some its just not in their DNA.
I remember both Hamilton and Al Gill playing for Boston and it drove me nuts that they didn’t have a physical side to their game.
Maybe it’s more of a hang up for me, I see a big body and want to see physical play.
Caper that seems to be a theme with the scouting reports on many of the bigger sized D-men in this upcoming draft.
Size & finesse vs size & truculence.
Poor Hal Gill. Just by virtue of being the second biggest player in the league in Chara’s early days, felt inclined to fight him periodically. Chara had much more of a mean streak back then, and Hal would try to stick up for his teammates.
I don’t think it ever went well for him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoBAchOIEj4
I suspect if Sakic saw the look on Nate’s face that I did after Hutchinson left that “soft” goal in last night, that both the Markstrom & Lehner camps are getting $7 mill to $8 mill per offers this fall.
With Demko in the background, I suspect the Nucks may balk in anteing up to that cost.
Not so sure about Vegas, as term may win out with Lehner.
With a top ten goaltender, the Avs will have a extremely bright future.
Hi Uwey
Lehner definitely won’t be a Knight next year unless at least 1 (maybe both) of Statsny & Flower are moved.
I’d move Statsny regardless… will start 20/21 @ 35; and Cap hit savings (Glass in Statsny out) is over $5.6 M and Glass is 14 years younger; and way faster; and is bigger. Glass should be on a steady improvement; Statsny waning
Hey Pengy,
I’m putting on my George O face & ask, who the Hell is taking Statsny or Fleury’s contracts off of Vegas’s hands to make this happen????
This is why I feel the Avs are in the drivers seat on both Lehner & Markstrom. They have the cap space to do so without doing too much damage long term.
Both the Nucks & moreso the Knights need another team’s help to make his work for them long term cap wise.
The reason I believe the Nucks might walk away is due to having Demko in the wings waiting his turn. Unless the Nucks decide Markstrom is their guy moving forward & decide to trade Demko to a team like Buffalo.
For fantasy sake & because I can’t resist being an armchair GM, say Demko & the Nucks 1st rder for Ristolainen & the Sabres 1st rder.
Or not!!!
Hi Uwey
Statsny much easier to move
It all comes down to sweetener … see below re Knights keeping Statsny ; having Hank and Flower battle it out for 1A 1B… all fits in Cap; but costs likely Krebs
George absolutely hates this when I post these rationales; but I own my own company and we do mergers and acquisitions; so my lens is always long term; big picture; personal attachments set aside
Receiving team overpays a fair bit for Stsny if they take him as their 3C; but get a veteran to mentor players for 1 year; AND get Krebs
If somehow receiving team plays him 2C; the overpay is no where near as much; still gets a mentor; AND gets Krebs
Again.. I look at the big picture and long term… no matter what; the worst case is I get a veteran presence that fills 3C and mentors the up and coming talent… veteran 3C that can still put up some fair numbers; and can easily slide to 2C with any injury to 1C or 2C; that mentors… value has to be $3.5 M +…. so I just bought Krebs for just less than $2M … that’s worst case scenario
Best case.., he plays the year at 2C; and don’t forget his mentor ship;…. $4.5 M to $5M value … you just bought Krebs for less than $1M
To put into perspective… Market value on prospects/picks…. Canes paid $3.8 M (Marleau deal) for a first rounder that at that time was expected to be in the 22nd-25th range… so may or may not play in the NHL at all and for sure not before 22/23
Krebs (already known) has a massively higher likelihood of NHL than the unknown Carolina pick and at worst case scenario; comes at 1/2 the price
Doable
Doable but never “doneable.” Not – any – more because the 21 teams with severe cap problems can’t take them, while the few rebuilding teams with lots of cap space and plenty of prospects simply don’t need them.
And Pengy, I sincerely doubt there is a “cap” on either how much your business earns or spends. Maybe imagine what it would be like with those conditions.
Ranger fan hoping and wishing Henrik goes to the Avs for a run. Better than a buyout for the Rangers even if eating chunk+sending a pick
Hi ds
The other suggestion I posted re HL was a to-through trade ; with three teams sharing Cap (just like Lehner trade where it’s Chi 50 %; Leafs 22%; Knights 28%) … end destination VGK’s
This assumes Knights can’t get deal done to move the flower and/or Statsny so they can sign Lehner
Rangers; retain 50% and send mid rounder in deal to to-through team); who retain the max 50% (of the remaining 50% = 25%) who send to Knights for prospect (Lechyshyn? Krebs?) and late rounder (if Lechysyn)
Rangers save $4.1 M in Cap and $2.25 in Cash; at the cost of say a 3rd or 4th rounder
Knights get the King (to battle it out for 1A ; 1B with the Flower) for $1.1 M Cash; $2.1 M Cap; don’t crimp Cap space ; have two veteran Goalers pushing each other ; at the expense of Krebs (but mid team sending Rangers 3rd or 4th to Knights) or Lechysyn and a 3rd
Middle team (has to be a team with space and on the building side of things) ; wastes nothing in Cap really as they didn’t need it but gets (buys) for $1.1 M either
Lechysn ; and a 3rd or 4th; and a 6th or 7th; OR
Krebs
“Buying” Krebs for $1.1 M is a steal
All above is in the King’s hands as he has to approve the trade…. I’m sure he doesn’t fancy moving; but if the choice is buyout or staying and effectively back-up but virtually 3rd string with NYR; vs going to a Contender in Vegas!!!!!! Another bonus (prob irrelevant to Hank) is no State tax for his VGK portion of his paycheques
Henrique…Henrique…Henrique
should be the cheer in Colorado next season . 50% retained of course
Hutchinson is brutal
It’s Henrik! Unless you’re talking about the center on Ducks. And no.
Pengy: Davidson has already told Lundqvist they won’t be carrying 3 goalies. Buying him out won’t be a punishment. It’ll be letting him get money plus become a ufa and free to sign anywhere. Why would Vegas need to go through all that when they can get him for peanuts as a ufa without giving up any assets? If Rask retires, Lundqvist will end up in Boston.
I don’t see anybody doing anything on Henry until the Buyout Period is over. Why pay for someone that you can have for free?
I can spell Slick. You have obviously never heard the chant in Madison Square. They are not yelling Hen Rick they are yelling Hen Rique
As Nyr4life
SilverSeven… sorry. Didn’t know you spell the way you hear it. I don’t need to ask a guy that lives in Florida. I actually live in Ny area and have been going to games since before Henrik was born.
Lol slick,
I’m guessing you’re probably Dutchess county or north…. which is about as NYC as Florida!
Please!
Absolutely nobody in NYC says “I live in the NY area”! Lmao.
Go back to Poughkeepsie!
I cannot see the Leafs taking on Murray with his more recent injury history and given his current contract – he will want 6+ a season. Unless Andersen wants about 6 – then keep him. I am not convinced this block to the next round is Andersen. Give him a year with 4-6 D that actually play D.
However, Andersen does have that history of soft goals, especially in the playoffs. You have to wonder if that is pressure because of the known fact Toronto has a bad D lineup.
If they go ahead with Andersen trade – I strongly suggest asking Vegas for Fleury at 3.5 mil (Vegas retains half) and they would have more money for Lehner and Leafs save 1.5 mil for 2 seasons. Then they have 2 years to plan after Fleury.
I trust more Fleury than Murray.
Thoughts?
Dubas has personal history with Murray at the Soo, so that may be the biggest link to those rumuors.
FYI, Sheldon Keefe was hired as head coach at the Soo by Kyle, so familiarity is something Dubas likes.
@pengy
complicated and cannot see Henrik going to Vegas
Would Vancouver have him?
I am down for trading Laine for Trochek and Pesce or Hamilton as the centerpieces of the trade.
Carolina gets a game breaking sniper, former wingman of Aho with size, one year on contract before RFA. Trading from position of strength on D, getting younger, no long term history/attachment to Trochek
Winnipeg: gets the #2c and RHD with size, both on good contracts.
Laine’s 35 goals get replaced by committee –
*about 10 more from Trochek vs this year’s 2c carousel
*5 more from whoever replaces him on PP
*5 more from Copp, Roslovic, Appleton and Hamilton/Pesce
2.0, not nearly enough for Laine in my personal opinion.
Yesterday Caper asked why I see Copp deserving an audition to play #2c – fair question.
With Copp I see progression in his play year over year, confidence, outstanding professionalism, brilliant thinker and captain material. His two-way play would have a chance to shine and we may find him being worthy of Selke consideration. Maybe a little bit of Bobby Holik in him. If Ehlers is a wing man all he needs to do is facilitate an offense not manufacture it — he was a talented high school quarterback and knows how to let his teammates shine.
Geez if i keep talking I might start believing that he is the perfect fit. Just an audition in the role for about 20-25 games is where I am at for now.
How about:
To Buffalo: R Patrik Laine, C Jack Roslovic, D Tucker Poolman
To Winnipeg: D Rasmus Ristolainen, C/R Sam Reinhart, 8th overall pick
Can St Louis convince Tarasenko to waive his NTC?
That would free significant cap room. Would garner them good amount of picks or lower cap solid player with picks.
Doubt he waives but since he will be out for a while….. and Domi won’t be playing in MTL …..
To STL: Domi & 2 2nds this draft (or a 1st and 3rd)
to MTL: Tarasenko
@IHC, he doesn’t wave to go to Montreal…not a chance
Hearing Colorado’s name popping in on Matt Murray..
Nikita Zadorov to the Penguins for matt Murray and Jared Mccann…
$3.3 TO PITTSBURGH
$5.0 TO COLORADO
W e get the rugged, young, lefthanded top 4 defenseman we need to go with Marino (Peterson sorry Pengy goes to third pair) where he belongs with POJ…. we clear some cap space too
Av’s get a young number one goalie on a affordable deal and a young winger slash/center.
They can have Henrik Lundqvist (my fav Ranger still) for free and NYR will even hold 50% without the AVS giving up assets. 😉
Let the King of Broadway get one last cup run next season starting in the Rocky Mountains with a cold Coors.